Norotos shows us their brand new Universal Bridge Adapter, a modular NVG mount which will accept a variety of night vision and thermal systems, both monocular and binocular.
When used in conjunction with their machined J-Arm you can mount one or two AN/PVS-14s.
Likewise, you can mount any device with a dovetail shoe. As the shoe receivers can be moved along the bridge to set the proper interpupillary distance, you can also set a single shoe receiver in the center for use with binocular devices.
Over the years Safran’s Pocket Laser Rangefinder (PLRF) line has become the standard light rangefinder for snipers, JTACs, and Forward Observers.
In order to continue providing the best capabilities to their customers they have introduced the Small Ultralight Range Finder (SURF) which was developed by Safran DSI in the USA and is an ITAR product.
SURF is 20% smaller and lighter than PLRF25C and is distinguished by its vertical orientation and ergonomics. In addition, it uses the Safran Vectronix 3019 rangefinder for increased performance out to 8000 meters. Simple to use, SURF can connect to multiple Bluetooth devices such as Kestral and ATAK.
SURF is fully qualified, in full-rate production, and available for order with deliver this year.
GORE-TEX brand displayed their candidate for an Improved Army Temperate Wet Weather Boot.
This boot is commercially available from McRae Footwear and is a GORE-TEX lined variant of their popular modern jungle boot called the Terrassault (T2) Ultra Light Hot Weather Combat Boot. The addition of the GORE-TEX lining makes them suitable for temperate climates where Soldiers often face cold wet conditions such as in Central Europe and across the much of North America.
The boot is 40% lighter, 25% more breathable, and not to mention more flexible, than the Temperate Combat Boot which was removed from the clothing bag. Currently, Soldiers receive two pairs of Hot Weather Boots. One of these could be swapped out for the Improved Army Temperate Wet Weather Boot to offer Soldiers better foot protection in wet environments.
Wear testers said it was more comfortable and lighter than the temperate combat boot as well as offering an athletic fit.
Below is a chart that compares the current Army Temperate Weather Boot with this proposed replacement and the Army Hot Weather Boot.
Every year the Australian pavilion at AUSA’s annual meeting gets larger and this year it was packed with both companies and victor’s checking out their wares.
Our friends at Ghost Robotics told us to check out a project they were working on with Skyborne Technologies called Controller Operated Direct Action Quadruped or CODiAQ.
Mounted in a roll cage to Ghost’s Vision-60 Quadraped Unmanned Ground Vehicle, this lethal direct-fire and ballistic breaching robot boasts the HAVOC 40mm Weapon Payload which is a rotary launcher with five tubes. Alternatively there is the CHAOS 12 ga payload, a 10 rotating cylinder weapon.
This sits atop the Targeting Electronics &Optics Box (TEOB) and utilizes a Silvus Streamcaster MANET Radio. The TEOB is powered by Skyborne’s Targeting Software which provides AI assisted target recognition, ballistic computation, and platform control via a single RF link and control station (GCS).
The system weighs 66 kg / 145 lbs and can be mounted to the Vision-60 in 10 minutes with weapon swap-out or reload in just 90 seconds.
The program is sponsored by ASD/SOLIC’s Capability Development and Innovation office.
Leupold exhibited their High-Angle Reflex Mount for use with grenade launchers.
Used in conjunction with a Delta Point Pro it comes with different elevation turrets based on the ballistics of the round. Seen here are HE and TPT turrets which easily swapped out.
Rheinmetall displayed their Skyranger 762 Ultra Short Range Air Defense Remote Weapon Station (U-SHORAD RWS) mounted to a US Army Infantry Squad Vehicle Cargo variant made by GMC.
The system combines the Echodyne EchoShield radar with two 7.62mm M134D Miniguns mounted on the Fieldranger Multi Remote Combat Weapon System to go after unmanned aerial systems, in particular small drones (NATO Class I) and lightly armored ground vehicles in a pinch.
W.L. Gore & Associates (Gore), creators of the GORE-TEX Brand and global leader in high-performance waterproof, windproof, and breathable fabric technologies exhibited several new products including the Tropo Performance All-Weather Active Insulation Jacket.
Developed in-house, the proposed All-Weather Active Insulation Jacket is intended to replace both Gen III ECWCS levels three and four in the Soldier’s rucksack (seen below).
It’s a straight forward design sized to both under armor and as a stand-alone jacket and delivers active breathability during high-output use and static warmth when stationary, keeping the insulation dry from the inside and out. There’s plenty of ventilation for high activity with Targeted Ventilation Underarm panels and mesh pocket bags promoting airflow during aerobic activity. Speaking of pockets, there are five with three external and two internal pockets. Ready for use, it offers Velcro options for name/rank placement on sleeve or chest.
The shell material is WINDSTOPPER fabric which delivers:
• High resistance to air penetration to block the wind and maintain consistent warmth
• Fends off light rain and snow while maintaining insulation performance/protection
• High moisture vapor permeability allows Soldier’s perspiration to escape during periods of high activity
• Outer shell fabric sheds moisture even without DWR
Inside, Polartec Alpha Direct insulation delivers:
• High-efficiency warmth with superior compressibility to reduce bulk
• Extremely open structure to increase airflow and prevent overheating during high activity
• High moisture wicking capability to quickly pull moisture off the Soldier’s body
Between going from two garments to one and with these materials, the jacket educes weight by 51% and pack volume by 38.8%.
The materials also keep insulation and base layers dry in adverse weather while maintaining breathability and comfort (low water pick-up). A 14% improvement in moisture vapor transmission vs ECWCS L3/L4.
Aside from its volume advantage, All-Weather Active Insulation Jacket meets the visual and nIR requirements of the OCP camo pattern (option to include SWIR), unlike the ECWCS L3 Fleece.
Submitted for formal evaluation under the Soldier Enhancement Program, it has been deferred to the next board for consideration. Previously, examples have been wear tested by several Army units in relevant field conditions.
During AUSA I got to spend some time with a model of the Northrop Grumman Precision Grenadier System which is one of several counter defilade and counter UAS weapon systems currently being evaluated by the US Army.
They’ve been at this project longer than most with early experience during the XM25 Punisher program. A study undertaken years ago for OICW (which the XM25 was derived from) led them to the 25mm ammunition size. Others are using 30mm or even 40mm.
So far, they’ve developed rounds for air-bursting, proximity, close quarter battle as well as target practice and they produce them themselves.
I find the airburst round to be the most impressive. It is a programmable, dual-warhead high-explosive fragmenting round that can be fired in both airburst and point detonate. By dual-warhead they mean that there are explosive charges at both the front and rear of the warhead.
To arm the round, the target is lased (in this case with the XM157) using the middle button. The Grenadier can use the plus and minus buttons above and below the lase button to add or subtract a meter per detent to where the warhead will detonate. This, combined with the dual-warhead would allow for a round to detonate above an open trench or fighting position, or within a room of fired through a window, door, or breach.
The High Explosive Proximity incorporates a proximity sensor to identify and explosively fragment the projectile in-flight to defeat stationary or moving UAS. This round does not require programming.
The CQB round uses buckshot for trench clearing a close-in CUAS.
The training practice round is a marker similar to the 40mm ammunition used in the M320 and is ballistically matched to the 25mm HEAB and 25mm PROX rounds.
Is my understanding that the army is considering replacing the M3 20 grenade launchers in the squad with PGS and that PGS will be the Grenadier’s primary weapon.
Because they selected 25mm, Northrup Grumman offers three round as well as five round removable, box magazines.
Lastly, I’d like to mention that the weapon weighs in at 12.9 lbs loaded with 5 rounds and 11.4 lbs empty and is ambidextrous in controls and ejection. There are ejection ports on either side and the weapon can configured to use either one. For charging, the black lever at the top is spring loaded and nonreciprocating. The shooter pulls it to either side and it snaps back onto the carry position once it is released.
